Man Who Refused Heaven

Joy Is Fundamental to Who We Are

Paramhansa Yogananda translated the classic definition of God given by Swami Shankarananda, “Sat-chid-ananda,” as, “Ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new joy.” Yogananda added the concept of “new” to the ancient definition.

Yogananda explained that God became His creation, which means that all of life exists, is conscious, and has the quality of joy innately within...